Buyer Know-Hows | Getting the Most out of Open Houses

Whether you've been on the lookout for a new home for a while now, or have only just begun, showing up at open houses can be overwhelming, especially when there are so many potential buyers looking at the same properties. How can you get the most out of each open house and find one that suites your needs? Keep reading to find out.

There's no such thing as a stupid question...

Purchasing a home is a big investment. Find out all that you can about the home, beyond what is written on the listing. Questions like...

Make the time

Don't rush through an open house. You'll want to imagine yourself living in the home - that means taking the time to pause during the open to really think about whether the home is a good fit for you and your family. Take a look at the other potential buyers of the home. Potential buyers will usually give you a good indication of the neighbourhood - are there more young couples? More young families? Retirees? You'll also want to ask your realtor about the neighbourhood. If you love the home, make the time to check out the neighbourhood. It's all about location after all!

Allow for follow up

If you love the home (and the neighbourhood!), ask the realtor when they are accepting offers and to get a feel for how many offers they anticipate - for more information on making offers in a multiple offers situation, check out our blog post here. Leave your contact information or your realtor's contact information so that follow up can be made.